To think a normal length cotton dress with sleeves is in fact the Holy Grail

[Orangeanddemons]

Because I can't find one anywhere, apart from Boden which I don't like.

I'm tall, so knee length is short on me. I work in a school, I neither want maxi or above knee level. I want just below knee or above ankle. These don't exist.

If they do they are ponte hideousness. Who buys all these polyester mini dresses?

[winklewoman]

That's the one Orchidella bought, Nocomet. The thing about East clothes is that the fabric is good quality, they are well made and last for ages. If you do that thing where you divide the cost of an item by the number of times you wear it, you will probably find East clothes are very good value. I've got a long silk dress, cut on the cross and with a beautiful pattern that I bought 10 years ago and it is still going strong as it is perfect for hot holidays.
The other handy thing is that they tend to keep to the same colour palette, so items you buy this year will probably go with previous purchases. They are strong on turquoise and dark pinks which suit me.

[Nocomet]

this is lovely in the flesh, the maxi dress version is stunning if your going to a suitable wedding etc. sadly it's East and £89 (maxi is over £100).

Not SAHM territory

[BravePotato]

Javotte, love the Next dress!

Have ordered it!

[AuntyDiluvian]

Ooh thanks bikerunski. Might take a chance on one of the lovely komodo styles then.

[javotte]

This one arrived this morning.
www.next.co.uk/x532074s1

It is not cotton, but it is lovely. Nice, heavy fabric that doesn't cling, mid-calf length (I am 5'7), the sleeves are perfect.

[winklewoman]

I love that one, orchidella, and would have nabbed one had I not bought this: www.east.co.uk/dream-linen-shirt-dress-cre/ which I love; I found some cheapo Primark turquoise skinnies to wear under it, many compliments already in less than a week. We are off on holiday next Thursday and it is so cool and comfortable I shall probably travel in it.

[MissBattleaxe]

Gorgeous orchidella!

[orchidella]

This just arrived in the post today thanks to the recommendations on East earlier in the thread. Fits all my requirements and very pretty
www.east.co.uk/rambagh-print-dress-blue/

[BikeRunSki]

I am a 12/14 and I have a Komodo jumper in an "S" which is huge! It might be worth trying their 14 Aunty.

[AuntyDiluvian]

I have very much enjoyed lurking on this thread and following the links. Really love all the komodo dresses and want to wear one to an upcoming wedding but I'm a size 16 which they don't do - curses! Anyone bought from them before and are the sizes by any chance weirdly large? (long shot)

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

Lovely dresses on this thread, think I might save up for a Poppy England one for summer work days.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

I tried on one or two Laura Ashley dresses last year (not the shape you're after though) and the fit was horrific. Lovely patterns, but the waist was very high and because they had a bit of an underskirt they made me look absolutely huge. It went out like a triangle from the bottom of my ribcage, like a child's drawing!

[hellymelly]

Wealth of Nations was lovely when it first started, it had Toast like shirts, and I bought a little fitted 40's style hungarian jacket (Later I saw pics of Paula Yates in the same one). But then they seemed to be in trouble, sold the name to a bigger company and the clothes got very boring and frumpy, sort of like Kaleidoscope is now, and then it disappeared altogether.

[Bearleigh]

I remember Wealth of Nations too - it was lovely (though not very 'me' so I never actually bought anything...)

[orchidella]

TheGruffalo I used to wear Laura Ashley too in late 80's but agree the fabrics would probably look awful now. Sorry I didn't see you were the first to mention Penny Plain btw. Why does hardly anyone make loose longer dresses these days? Body con and fitted shifts are all very well but not very comfy or practical. Even the dresses that say fit and flare are fitted to the waist as oppose to having a waist tie that does up at the back so you can pull them in that way. Empire line, a back tie and a flare out, pref on the knee or below - that is my holy grail! And in a cool non- sweaty material. With short sleeves.

[TheGruffalo2]

Brilliant, thanks for that. I will look more closely tonight and decide what to order.

[FiscalCliffRocksThisTown]

I have a Cath Kidston dress in real silk, lovely

[FiscalCliffRocksThisTown]

I have two people tree dresses which are lovely and wash well. The lengths vary, but it usually says on the site.

I am 6ft and they are just on the knee. It us trial anx error as two other dresses I ordered were tiny.

But they usually offer free returns.

[TheGruffalo2]

Sorry, what I mean by quality was did it wash OK?

[TheGruffalo2]

Thank you, was the quality and customer service OK?

[ToAvoidConversation]

I have. It's all lovely and so soft.

[TheGruffalo2]

Has anyone bought anything from People Tree? It is one of the few I'm tempted with.

[BikeRunSki]

I remember Racing Green too. They were similar to Biden, but less "fun".

Does anyone remember Wealth of Nations? I think jury were the same parent company as Penny Plain. They sourced authentic "workwear/traditional dress as normal clothes" from around the world - stuff like Breton tops, duffle coats, Chinese silk dresses, twill work trousers etc. Had some great stuff.

[TheGruffalo2]

Gosh, I've just remembered that I lived in Laura Ashley cotton dresses in the late '80s and early '90s. They were perfect, but I suspect I would find them too floral and twee at my age now. I loved the styles, so maybe if they had them in plain, geometrics or non-twee-florals I'd be happy now.

[Caitlin17]

TheGruffalo I've only discovered that range. There is a stockist in Edinburgh but I will sign up direct on the site in case there are sales.

Re Penny Plain there used to be a similar brand called Racing Green which went the same way. I had a couple of dresses from them which were exactly what the OP is looking for.